2015 PA STATE RAIL PLAN

​The 2015 Pennsylvania State Rail Plan was developed by PennDOT in collaboration with public and private sector stakeholders from across the Commonwealth. The plan documents the existing passenger and freight rail systems in Pennsylvania, identifies the economic and technological trends that will shape the future of rail transportation in the state, and creates a vision for the future of rail service throughout Pennsylvania, including high-speed, intercity, commuter, and freight railroads.

This vision can be realized with the implementation of the Rail Service and Investment Program (RSIP) detailed in Chapter 5. The RSIP considers increased demand for both passenger and freight rail while assessing operational and capital needs to meet projected growth in these areas. The plan defines key rail initiatives necessary to serve growth in freight markets, promote economic development across the Commonwealth, and improve passenger rail travel. By defining the top priorities for rail investment, the plan positions the statewide rail system to take advantage of the focus of the Comprehensive Transportation Funding Plan of 2013 (better known as Act 89) on investment in multimodal transportation systems.

The 2015 Pennsylvania State Rail Plan meets the requirements of the federal Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act (PRIIA) of 2008 and the State Rail Plan Guidance provided by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) in September 2013.

The formal public comment period on the Draft State Rail Plan closed October 2, 2015. The Federal Railroad Administration completed its review, and the plan was approved in December 2016.

2015 Pennsylvania State Rail Plan Chapters and Appendices

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 - Overview: The Role of Rail in Pennsylvania's Transportation NetworkDescription of how Pennsylvania’s passenger and freight rail elements fit as part of the state’s multimodal transportation network.

Chapter 5 - Rail Service and Investment ProgramProposed passenger and freight rail investments, including a five-year plan of short-term improvements, a 20-year plan for long-term improvements, and a list of long-term vision projects to expand the reach of passenger and freight rail networks.